Implant device and method for manufacture

ABSTRACT

A knee implant includes a femoral component having first and second femoral component surfaces. The first femoral component surface is for securing to a surgically prepared compartment of a distal end of a femur. The second femoral component surface is configured to replicate the femoral condyle. The knee implant further includes a tibial component having first and second tibial component surfaces. The first tibial component surface is for contacting a proximal surface of the tibia that is substantially uncut subchondral bone. At least a portion of the first tibial component surface is a mirror image of the proximal tibial surface. The second tibial component surface articulates with the second femoral component surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to copending U.S. Application No. 60/889,859, filed on Feb. 14, 2007, entitled “Implant Device and Method for Manufacture.”

This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/681,749 filed Oct. 7, 2003, entitled “Minimally Invasive Joint Implant with 3-Dimensional Geometry Matching the Articular Surfaces”, which in turn claims priority to U.S. Application 60/416,601 filed Oct. 7, 2002, entitled “Minimally Invasive Joint Implant With 3-Dimensional Geometry Matching the Articular Surfaces,” and U.S. Application 60/467,686 filed May 2, 2003, entitled “Joint Implants”.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/997,407 filed Nov. 24, 2004, entitled “Patient Selectable Knee Joint Arthroplasty Devices”; which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/752,438 filed Jan. 5, 2004, entitled “Patient Selectable Knee Joint Arthroplasty Devices”; which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/724,010 filed Nov. 25, 2003, entitled “Patient Selectable Joint Arthroplasty Devices and Surgical Tools Facilitating Increased Accuracy, Speed and Simplicity in Performing Total and Partial Joint Arthroplasty”; which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/305,652 filed Nov. 27, 2002, entitled “Methods and Compositions for Articular Repair”; which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/160,667 filed May 28, 2002, entitled “Methods and Compositions for Articular Resurfacing”; which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 60/293,488 filed May 25, 2001, entitled “Methods To Improve Cartilage Repair Systems”, U.S. Application No. 60/363,527 filed Mar. 12, 2002, entitled “Novel Devices For Cartilage Repair”, U.S. Application No. 60/380,695 filed May 14, 2002, entitled “Methods And Compositions for Cartilage Repair”, and U.S. Application No. 60/380,692 filed May 14, 2002, entitled “Methods for Joint Repair”.

The above-mentioned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/997,407 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/681,750 filed Oct. 7, 2003, entitled “Minimally Invasive Joint Implant with 3-Dimensional Geometry Matching the Articular Surfaces”.

All of the above patent applications, as well as patent applications and other references mentioned hereinbelow, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to orthopedic methods, systems and devices and more particularly, to joint implants and methods for manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Joint implants are well known in the art. For example, one of the most common types of joint prosthetic devices is a knee implant including a femoral component and a tibial component. Other common joint implants are associated with, for example, the hip and shoulder.

The shape and size of various joint implants are becoming increasingly more complex and may include, for example, one or more concavities and/or convexities, as described in above-mentioned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/997,407. Traditional implant manufacturing processes, which may even include manual steps, and which may be satisfactory for less complex shaping, are becoming inadequate.

Furthermore, joint implants, such as a knee implant that includes tibial and femoral components, often require a relatively large cut on, for example, the tibia. This is due, in part, to the needed thickness (for strength and/or reliability) of the polyurethane tibial component. The cut on the tibia, upon which the tibial component rests, provides space for the needed thickness of the polyurethane tibial component, without overstuffing the joint. Such cuts are highly invasive, resulting in loss of bone stock, and over time, osteolysis frequently leads to loosening of the prosthesis. Further, the area where the implant and the bone mate degrades over time, requiring that the prosthesis be replaced. Since the patient's bone stock is limited, the number of possible replacement surgeries is also limited for joint arthroplasty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment provides a method for making an implant suitable for a joint includes providing a blank with a (i.e., at least one) dimension smaller than the implant, and material is added to the blank so as to form surface detail on the implant. In related embodiments, adding material to the blank may include laser sintering and/or electron beam melting. Adding material to the block may include adding ceramic(s), metal(s) and/or ceramic-metal composite(s). The material added to the blank may be polished, also. In further embodiments, the blank may be made of, e.g., polymer(s), metal(s), cross-linked polymer(s), ceramic(s), ceramic-metal composite(s), and/or alloy(s); or use-appropriate combinations thereof. Providing the blank may include forming the blank by casting and/or milling. In still further embodiments, a three-dimensional shape of a (i.e., at least one, or a portion of at least one) surface of the joint is determined. Determining the three-dimensional shape may include the use of imaging, such as MRI, CT, ultrasound, digital tomosynthesis, and/or optical coherence techniques. The material added to the blank may be, in embodiments, such that a surface of the implant is a mirror image of a corresponding surface of the joint. The implant may be, e.g., a cartilage repair, unicompartmental knee, bicompartmental knee, total knee replacement, hip, shoulder, or interpositional joint implant. An interpositional joint implant may be associated with, e.g., a knee, hip or shoulder.

Another embodiment provides a method for making an implant suitable for a joint including providing a blank having a dimension that is different from the implant. The blank is modified using, at least in part, a laser, and/or electron beam melting to form the implant. The formed surfaces may desirably be polished. In related embodiments, the blank may include a dimension that is larger than the implant, and wherein modifying the blank includes cutting the blank with the laser. Laser-cut surfaces may desirably be polished. In further related embodiments, the blank may include a dimension that is smaller than the implant, and wherein modifying the blank includes adding material by laser sintering. The added material may be desirably polished. The blank may be made of polymer(s), metal(s), cross-linked polymer(s), ceramic(s), ceramic-metal composite(s), and/or alloy(s); or use-appropriate combinations thereof. The blank may be formed by casting and/or milling. In related embodiments, a three-dimensional shape of a (i.e., at least one, or a portion of at least one) surface of the joint may be determined. Determining the three-dimensional shape may include the use of imaging, such as MRI, CT, ultrasound, digital tomosynthesis, and/or optical coherence techniques. The blank may be desirably modified such that a surface of the implant is a mirror image of a corresponding surface of the joint.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method for making an implant suitable for a joint includes providing a blank with at least one dimension larger than the implant. A laser, polishing, etching, milling and/or an abrading process is used to cut the blank so as to form surface detail of the implant. In related embodiments, the blank may be made of polymer(s), metal(s), cross-linked polymer(s), ceramic(s), ceramic-metal composite(s), and/or alloy(s); or use-appropriate combinations thereof. Providing the blank may include forming the blank by casting and/or milling.

In still further embodiments, a three-dimensional shape of a (i.e., at least one, or a portion of at least one) surface of the joint is determined. Determining the three-dimensional shape may include the use of imaging, such as MRI, CT, ultrasound, digital tomosynthesis, and/or optical coherence. The blank may be desirably cut such that a surface of the implant is a mirror image of a corresponding surface of the joint. The implant may be, e.g., a cartilage repair, unicompartmental knee, bicompartmental knee, total knee replacement, hip, shoulder, or interpositional joint implant. An interpositional joint implant may be associated with, e.g., a knee, hip or shoulder.

In accordance with another embodiment, a knee implant includes a femoral component having first and second femoral component surfaces. The first femoral component surface is for securing to a surgically prepared compartment of a distal end of a femur. The second femoral component surface is configured to replicate the femoral condyle. The knee implant further includes a tibial component having first and second tibial component surfaces. The first tibial component surface is for contacting a proximal surface of the tibia that is substantially uncut subchondral bone (which may further include overlying articular cartilage.) At least a portion of the first tibial component surface is a mirror image of a corresponding proximal tibial surface. The second tibial component surface articulates with the second femoral component surface. In related embodiments, the second femoral component surface may include at least one of a ceramic and a metal, and the second tibial component surface may include ceramic(s) and/or metal(s). Both the second femoral component surface and the second tibial surface may include metal(s). Both the second femoral component surface and the second tibial surface may include ceramic(s).

The second femoral component surface may include one of a ceramic and a metal, and the second tibial surface may include the other of the one of a ceramic and a metal, e.g., the second femoral component surface may be ceramic, and the second tibial surface may be metal. The tibial component may have a thickness of 3 mm or less.

In related embodiments, the tibial component may include an anchoring mechanism, such as a peg and/or a keel. Alternatively, the tibial component may be an interpositional implant that does not include a physical anchoring mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a joint implant;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a joint implant; and

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a total knee implant, in cross-sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to methods for making joint implants that leverage additive or subtractive manufacturing methods including laser sintering and electron beam melting, and to non-invasive joint implants which may be advantageously made by the methods described herein. Such implants may feature a surface of the implant that is advantageously a mirror image of the joint surface. In another embodiment, non-invasive joint implants that rest on substantially uncut subchondral bone are described. The invention is now described in further detail, below.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” includes a plurality of such devices and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Similarly, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Also, the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably.

It is to be understood that the implants described herein may be associated with a wide variety of joints, including, without limitation, joint implants used in a knee, shoulder, hip, vertebrae, elbow, ankle, hand, foot and wrist.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart depicting a method for manufacturing a joint implant, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In step 101, a blank is provided with at least one dimension that is larger than that of the (final) implant. The dimension of the implant may be, e.g., a partial or uniform thickness, length, width, or curvature. The blank may be made, without limitation, a polymer, a metal, a cross-linked polymer, a ceramic, a ceramic-metal composite, and/or an alloy.

Suitable materials for use in joint implants and methods described herein can include metals and metal alloys including CoCrMo, CoCr, titanium alloys and commercially pure TI (cpTi), medical grade stainless steels, tantalum and tantalum alloys, and Nitinol (“NiTi”). Particularly advantageous materials are those well-suited, or specifically designed, for laser sintering or electron-beam melting manufacturing techniques, e.g., ASTM F-75 CoCr alloy, or Arcam Ti6Al4V ELI titanium alloy (available from Stratasys, Eden Prairie, Minn.) Ceramic materials, e.g., aluminum oxide or alumina, zirconium oxide or zirconia, compact of particulate diamond, and/or pyrolytic carbon may be used.

In various embodiments, the blank is dimensioned to be, in one or more portions, only slightly larger than that of the implant. For example, the blank may be milled or cast such that all, or certain portions of the blank, are only slightly larger than the implant. Providing a blank from which material will be removed to arrive at the precise implant size, geometry and surface characteristics, simplifies manufacturing processing and is believed to ensure reproducibility. The blank may be provided, e.g., by casting, milling, forging, compression molding, extruding or injection molding.

In various embodiments, a library of blanks may be kept of varying size and shapes. Upon determining an implant size, an appropriately sized blank may then be chosen.

Upon providing the blank, the blank is cut with a laser so as to form surface detail of the implant, step 105. Separately, or in addition to laser cutting, the blank may also be cut using precision milling or grinding, or other abrading processes known in the art. For example, after cutting the blank with the laser, the surface of the blank may desirably be polished.

In various embodiments, the method may further include determining a three-dimensional shape of at least one surface of the joint, step 103. Using the three-dimensional shape, the blank may be cut in step 105 such that a surface of the implant, or a portion thereof, is a mirror image of the corresponding joint surface (or portion thereof). For example, the implant surface may comprise a surface that is a mirror image of the joint surface to which the implant surface is designed to mate, so that the implant surface conforms to the joint surface, ensuring that the device fits the joint surface in precisely the correct location. The implant surface may alternately comprise more than one such mirror image surfaces, e.g., to assist in placement in the device, i.e., the implant surface need not comprise one contiguous mirror image of the joint surface. A series or pattern of smaller implant mirror image surfaces, each corresponding to or matching an area of the joint surface, can be provided. Without limitation, one application of this would be to provide grooves in which cement for affixing the device may be applied, so the device may be attached to the joint surface without flowing onto other areas of the implant surface. Another non-limiting application would be where a continuous conforming surface were not necessary, e.g., where the device may be properly seated by matching two, three, four or more conforming “reference surfaces” to corresponding areas of the joint surface. The area of the mirror image surface desirably should be sufficient to ensure that the device is located properly. Where there are more than one of these “reference surfaces”, the area of each should be use-and application-appropriate, but a range of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 cm² or more for each reference surface is contemplated. Where there is one implant surface with a mirror image, smaller areas comprising a mirror image are possible, as well as the entire implant surface. The joint surface may include at least one concavity and/or convexity.

Using the approach generally outlined in FIG. 1., a non-invasive joint implant, such as those described in above-mentioned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/997,407, may be manufactured. The implant may be, for example, a cartilage repair implant, a unicompartmental knee implant, a bicompartmental knee implant, a total knee replacement implant, a hip implant, and a shoulder implant. The implant may also be an interpositional implant, such as the implant described in above-mentioned U.S. Application No. 60/784,255.

Determining the three-dimensional shape of the joint surface may include a wide variety of imaging methodologies. For example, the imaging may include MRI, CT, ultrasound, digital tomosynthesis, and/or optical coherence. Reference is made to the above-mentioned U.S. application Ser. Nos. 10/997,407 and 10/728,731 for how imaging technologies are used to derive the three-dimensional shape of the joint surface. The 3-D information is then used in the CAD/CAM system to form the implant shape, geometry, and surfaces to make the desired implant.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting a method for manufacturing a joint implant, in accordance with another embodiment. In step 201, a blank is provided with at least one dimension that is smaller than that of the (final) implant, instead of larger as described in FIG. 1. Material is then added to the block to form surface detail on the implant (step 205.)

The material may be added to the block using additive manufacturing technologies including laser sintering and/or electron beam melting. In laser sintering, a high power laser, such as a carbon dioxide laser, is used to fuse small particles of plastic, metal, or ceramic powders into a mass representing a desired three-dimensional object. Generally, the laser selectively fuses powdered material by scanning cross-sections generated from a 3-D digital description of the part (eg., from a CAD file or scan data) on the surface of a powder bed. After each cross-section is scanned, the powder bed is lowered by one layer thickness, a new layer of material is applied on top, and the process is repeated until the part is completed. Laser sintering can produce parts from a relatively wide range of commercially available powder materials, including polymers, ceramics, and metals (such as steel, titanium, alloys and composites)

Full melting, partial melting, or liquid-phase sintering may be used. Electron beam melting involves melting or fusing metal, ceramic or other various powders, so as to build the part layer by layer. Exemplary electron beam melting systems are available from Stratasys, Eden Prairie, Minn.

After adding material to the blank, the surface of the blank may be desirably polished. Furthermore, and similar to above-described embodiments, the method may further include determining a three-dimensional shape of at least one surface of the joint, step 203. Using the three-dimensional shape, material may be added to the blank in step 205 such that at least one surface of the implant is a mirror image of at least one surface of the joint. The implant may be, for example, a cartilage repair implant, a unicompartmental knee implant, a bicompartmental knee implant, a total knee replacement implant, a hip implant, and a shoulder implant. The implant may also be an interpositional implant, such as the implant described in above-mentioned U.S. Application No. 60/784,255.

Determining the three-dimensional shape of the joint surface may include a wide variety of imaging methodologies. For example, the imaging may include MRI, CT, ultrasound, digital tomosynthesis, and/or optical coherence. Reference is made to the above-mentioned U.S. application Ser. Nos. 10/997,407 and 10/728,731 for how imaging technologies are used to derive the three-dimensional shape of the joint surface. The 3-D information is then used in the CAD/CAM system to form the implant shape, geometry, and surfaces to make the desired implant.

In accordance with another embodiment, a joint implant is presented wherein at least one surface of the implant rests on subchondral bone, and advantageously does not require invasive cutting of bone. These implants may be advantageously made by the methods described hereinabove. While an exemplary knee implant is described, it is to be understood that the joint implant may be associated with, for example, a shoulder, a hip, a vertebrae, an elbow, an ankle, a hand, a foot or a wrist.

FIG. 3 shows in cross-section a total knee implant, in accordance with one embodiment. A femoral component 301 includes a first femoral component surface 303 for securing to a surgically prepared compartment of a distal end of a femur 305. A second femoral component surface 307 replicates the shape of the femoral condyle(s).

A tibial component 311 includes a first tibial component surface 313 for resting on and contacting a proximal surface of the tibia. The proximal surface of the tibia may advantageously include substantially uncut subchondral bone. In illustrative embodiments, at least a portion of the first tibial component surface 313 is a mirror image of the proximal surface. For example, a three-dimensional image of the proximal surface may be obtained as described above, with the first tibial component surface 313 manufactured based on the three-dimensional image. A second tibial component surface 317 articulates with the second femoral component surface 307. It is to be understood that in a total knee joint implant, the tibial component(s) cover both the medial and lateral plateau. In various embodiments, the tibial component may be a single component that covers both the medial and lateral plateau (and may or may not leave the tibial spines intact), or may include two components (i.e., a tibial component for the medial side and a tibial component for the lateral side). In other embodiments, for example, a unicondylar knee implant, the tibial component may cover either only the medial or lateral plateau.

In an exemplary embodiment, the femoral component 301 and the tibial component 311 may each be approximately 2-3 mm thick. The thickness may be, for example, similar to the thickness of cartilage removed in preparing the joint for implantation. Thus, overstuffing of the joint is minimized while providing a non-invasive alternative to traditional invasive knee surgery. Heretofore, such implants having the requisite dimensions and strength were not easily achievable. Some or all of the cartilage on the femoral and/or tibial articular surfaces may be removed to prepare the joint for receiving an implant (i.e., to expose some or all of the subchondral bone) as necessary, depending on the progression of cartilage wear, disease, etc. The interior surfaces of the femoral and/or tibial component may be accordingly designed so the implant may be affixed directly to the desired exposed area(s) of subchondral bone. The thickness and/or shape of the femoral and/or tibial components may be determined (e.g., so as to reconstruct the thickness of the originally present articular cartilage) from an image-derived subchondral bone shape of the joint surfaces, as described in the above-mentioned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/305,652.

To provide the required strength (e.g., for biomechanical loading) and reliability, and still be thin enough to avoid overstuffing the joint, the first tibial surface 313 and/or the second tibial surface 317 includes, without limitation, a metal and/or a ceramic. For example, the second femoral component surface 307 may includes at least one of a ceramic and a metal, and the second tibial component surface 317 includes at least one of a ceramic and a metal. In another example, both the second femoral component surface 307 and the second tibial surface 317 include a metal. In still another example, both the second femoral component surface 307 and the second tibial surface 317 include a ceramic. In yet another example, the second femoral component surface 307 includes one of a ceramic and a metal, and the second tibial surface 317 includes the other of the one of a ceramic and a metal.

In various embodiments, the knee implant includes an anchoring mechanism 330. The anchoring mechanism 330 may be, without limitation, a peg and a keel protruding from the first tibial surface 313.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to the practitioner skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention and the various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for making an implant suitable for repairing an articular surface of a joint, the method comprising: a. determining a desired dimension selected from the group consisting of width, length, curvature, thickness, and any combination thereof, of an articular implant based on an articular shape derived from image data of the joint; b. providing a blank with at least one corresponding dimension larger than the desired dimension of the articular implant; and c. cutting the blank to obtain the desired dimension of the articular implant.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the blank is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a metal, a cross-linked polymer, a ceramic, a ceramic-metal composite, an alloy, and any combination thereof.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the blank includes forming the blank by casting, milling, forging, compression molding, extruding or injection molding.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein cutting the blank includes cutting the blank such that at least a portion of one surface of the implant is substantially a negative of at least a portion of the articular surface of the joint.
 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining the image data of the joint by an imaging technique selected from the group consisting of MRI, CT, ultrasound, digital tomosynthesis, optical coherence tomography, and any combination thereof.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the implant includes one of a cartilage repair implant, a unicompartmental knee implant, a bicompartmental knee implant, a total knee replacement implant, a hip implant, and a shoulder implant.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the implant is an interpositional joint implant.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interpositional joint implant is associated with one of a knee, hip and shoulder.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the blank from a library of pre-made implants.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the joint is a knee joint, wherein the articular implant includes a surface configured to substantially replicate at least a portion of a femoral condyle of the knee joint.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the articular implant includes a surface configured to substantially replicate at least a portion of articular curvature of the joint.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the articular implant includes a surface that substantially replicates a cartilage surface of the joint.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the articular implant includes a surface that substantially replicates a subchondral bone surface of the joint.
 14. A method for making an implant suitable for repairing an articular surface of a joint, the method comprising: a. determining a desired dimension of an articular implant based on image data of the joint; b. providing a blank with at least one dimension smaller than the desired dimension of the articular implant; and c. adding material to the blank so as to obtain the desired dimension of the articular implant.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein adding material to the blank includes laser sintering and/or electron beam melting.
 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein adding material to the blank includes adding a material selected from the group consisting of a ceramic, a metal, a ceramic-metal composite, and any combination thereof.
 17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, after adding material, polishing the material added to the blank.
 18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the blank is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a metal, a cross-linked polymer, a ceramic, a ceramic-metal composite, an alloy, and any combination thereof.
 19. The method according to claim 14, wherein providing the blank includes forming the blank casting, milling, forging, compression molding, extruding or injection molding.
 20. The method according to claim 14, wherein material is added to the blank such that at least a portion of one surface of the implant is substantially a negative of at least a portion of the articular surface of the joint.
 21. The method according to claim 14, further comprising obtaining the image data of the joint by an imaging technique selected from the group consisting of MRI, CT, ultrasound, digital tomosynthesis, optical coherence tomography, and any combination thereof.
 22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the implant includes one of a cartilage repair implant, a unicompartmental knee implant, a bicompartmental knee implant, a total knee replacement implant, a hip implant, and a shoulder implant.
 23. The method according to claim 14, wherein the implant is an interpositional joint implant.
 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the interpositional joint implant is associated with one of a knee, hip and shoulder.
 25. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting the blank from a library of pre-made implants.
 26. A method for making an implant suitable for a joint, the method comprising: a. determining a desired dimension selected from the group consisting of width, length, curvature, and any combination thereof, of an articular surface of the implant based on image data of the joint; b. providing a blank having at least a corresponding dimension that is different from the desired dimension of the articular surface of the implant; and c. modifying the blank to obtain the desired dimension of the surface of the articular implant.
 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein providing the blank includes providing a blank having at least one dimension that is larger than the desired dimension of the articular surface of the implant, and wherein modifying the blank includes cutting the blank with the laser.
 28. The method according to claim 27, wherein modifying the blank includes polishing surfaces cut by the laser.
 29. The method according to claim 26, wherein providing the blank includes providing a blank that has at least one dimension that is smaller than the desired dimension of the articular surface of the implant, and wherein modifying the blank includes adding material by one of laser sintering and electron beam melting.
 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein modifying the blank includes polishing the added material.
 31. The method according to claim 26, wherein the blank is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a metal, a cross-linked polymer, a ceramic, a ceramic-metal composite, an alloy, and any combination thereof.
 32. The method according to claim 26, wherein providing the blank includes forming the blank by casting, milling, forging, compression molding, extruding or injection molding.
 33. The method according to claim 26, wherein the blank is modified such that at least a portion of one surface of the implant is substantially a negative of at least a portion of the articular surface of the joint.
 34. The method according to claim 26, further comprising obtaining the image data of the joint by an imaging technique selected from the group consisting of MRI, CT, ultrasound, digital tomosynthesis, optical coherence, and any combination thereof.
 35. The method of claim 26, further comprising selecting the blank from a library of pre-made implants.
 36. The method of claim 26, wherein the joint is a knee joint, wherein the articular implant includes a surface configured to substantially replicate at least a portion of a femoral condyle of the knee joint. 